COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
REGULAR MEETINGS
FEBRUARY 11 & 28
MULTIUNIT HOUSING INCENTIVE GRANT BYLAW: Bylaw No. 1589-25 the Multiunit Housing Incentive Grant Bylaw received second and third reading. The purpose of this bylaw is to provide a grant to encourage the development of new multiunit residential housing within the Town of Bonnyville. It provides a reimbursement grant of $10,000 for each new dwelling unit constructed to a maximum of 50 units. The units would consist of new developments with two or more dwellings that are constructed on R3 or R4 zoned property. The grant will be provided to the owner once the construction is complete, and an occupancy permit has been issued with no deficiencies. The timeline for completion of the project is 24 months from the date the building/development permit has been issued. This Bylaw has an end term of December 31st, 2025, and the program would be reviewed annually during budget season.
UPDATED BYLAW: Council provided second and third reading for Bylaw No. 1587-25 The Water and Sewer Bylaw. It was updated to reflect current practices, new vocabulary, to reference current legislation and to increase fine amounts for contravention of the bylaw. The new bylaw introduces the use of service fees for all paper utility account invoices. Some other new details include the introduction of prohibited materials, formalizing the practice of ‘hot tapping’ for water service connections, reading meters monthly, removal of language around coins for bulk water usage and references to the most recent version of the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association rates for custom work.
FUNDING REQUESTS: Representatives from the Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative updated Council on their funding during the Feb. 11 Regular Council Meeting. Alberta Health Services (AHS), now known as Recovery Alberta, informed the Collaborative the $67,000 in funding provided will be discontinued as of March 31, 2025. The money was allocated for the Mental Health Navigator position. If this funding is lost, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative will no longer be able to offer services to the 70 families that currently utilize them. The Collaborative has requested an additional $25,000 from the Town to supplement the loss of funding until December 2025. This would bring the Town’s contribution to $75,000 for 2025. The Collaborative is investigating other avenues of funding to cover the shortfall. Council approved the funding request during the Feb. 28 Regular Meeting.
A $2,500 donation was approved by Council for the Pushing for Change organization. The public speaking event featuring motivational speaker Joe Robert will be offered to all local high schools on March 25 and a public event is scheduled on March 26. The money will go towards covering the rental fees for the events being hosted at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre.
BYLAW: First reading was provided to Bylaw No. 1591-25 the Loan Bylaw for the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts. This Loan Bylaw was created to assist the Foundation to complete the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre Project, which has a shortfall of $800,000. The loan has a five per cent interest rate with a term of four years. The Municipal Government Act (MGA) allows municipalities to lend money to a non-profit organization if Council considers the money loaned will be used for a purpose that will benefit the general public. The MGA also requires the Loan Bylaw to be provided first reading and then be advertised for two weeks in a local paper that publishes weekly, and be brought back to a future meeting for second and third reading.
DELEGATION: Melody Littell, Director of Regional Operations of the Eastern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (EARVSS), provided Council an overview of the EARVSS and how the regional transition impacted services being offered to victims of crime. The EARVSS aims to ensure that those victimized by crime or have experienced tragedy are best served during the aftermath of an event and while they navigate the criminal justice process. The Eastern Regional Team, which includes Bonnyville in the North Subregion, will continue to provide services to victims in the area through local teams of Court and Support Navigators co-located within RCMP Detachment. Bonnyville currently has three full-time employees working out of the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment. The RVSS services fall into two categories; general support services and Criminal Justice System Navigation Services.
BRIEFLY: Council approved the ordering of lights for the Jessie Lake Tree Lighting Project for $40,000. The lighting project in 2024 included Pontiac Park, as well as other areas along the Jessie Lake Trail. In 2025, more of the trail will be decorated with lights in the winter months.
The purchase of a zero-turn mower was awarded to Dynamo Small Engine for $16,500.
Council awarded the purchase of a pick-up truck for $51,029.49 to Tercier Motors.
The purchase of a CPO SUV was awarded to Ducharme Motors for $69,976. The budget for that vehicle was increased to $107,105 to fund the additional aftermarket costs with funding to come from the Equipment Replacement Reserve.
Coun. Neil Langridge was appointed as the third member from the Town of Bonnyville to the Bonnyville and District Leisure Facility Corporation Board.
First reading was provided to Bylaw No. 1592-25 for the borrowing and charging of a Local Improvement Tax for the 47 Ave. South Back Lane between 46 and 47 St.
Bylaw No. 1588-25 for the proposed partial lane closure was given first reading. If approved, this bylaw would close a portion of the lane at the back of 4802 47 Ave. The intent to close this section of lane is to allow Bonnylodge residents to use it as a green space.
The Town will be requesting Ministerial approval to opt out of the Regional Policing Committee due to the municipality already having its own Municipal Policing Committee.